Lucens reactor

Lucens reactor was a 6 MW experimental nuclear power reactor located in Lucens, Vaud, Switzerland. It was a carbon dioxide cooled, graphite moderated, uranium fuelled reactor. The reactor was built in a cave inside a hill, a unique design intended to protect it from a nuclear accident.

History

The construction of the Lucens reactor began in 1962, and it first achieved criticality on 29 September 1966. The reactor was designed to produce electricity and district heating for the nearby town of Lucens. It was the first Swiss attempt to build a nuclear power plant for electricity production and district heating.

Accident

On 21 January 1969, a serious accident occurred in the reactor. A loss of coolant led to a partial core meltdown and a large release of radioactive material into the reactor cavern. The cavern was sealed off and the reactor was decommissioned. The accident was classified as a Level 4 event on the International Nuclear Event Scale (INES), which denotes an accident with local consequences.

Aftermath

Following the accident, the Swiss government decided to focus on light water reactor technology for future nuclear power plants. The Lucens site was monitored for several years and eventually released from the Swiss regulatory authority in 1995. The cavern has been sealed and is not accessible to the public.

See also

• List of nuclear power accidents by country
• Nuclear power in Switzerland
• Nuclear safety and security

References

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